Sermons on Ask For Hard Things:

When Things Don’t Work Out Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 7, 2016

what does Jesus have to say about divorce? In our Scripture today, the Pharisees asked Jesus, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?"

When Things Don’t Work Out Matthew 19: 1-12 Scott Grant writes about a Time Magazine article where Caitlin Flanagan observes that, while the divorce culture has become a fact of life over the past twenty-five years, the middle class has turned weddings into “overwrought exercises in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:1-12

Denomination: Methodist

Locusts & Darkness (Exodus 10)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Aug 15, 2024

Did God harden a stubborn heart that Pharaoh had already hardened? Let's look at Exodus 10.

Did God harden Pharaoh’s heart apart from his free will (Exodus 4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8; 14:7)? Did Pharaoh’s heart just grow hard (Exodus 7:13, 22; 8:19; 9:7, 35)? Did Pharaoh harden his own heart (Exodus 8:15, 32; 9:34)? Did God only harden what Pharaoh had already decided ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

You're Hard To Love

Contributed by Fr. Rian Adams on May 17, 2019

A sermon on how difficult it is to follow Jesus's commandment, "love one another."

You’re Not Easy to Love “I’m going away, but I will leave you with a new commandment; you should love one another as I have loved you.” This Gospel is a rewind, Jesus said these words at the last supper. John set the scene with Jesus eating dinner with his friends. Judas left and went out into ...read more

Scripture: John 13:31-35

Denomination: Episcopal

If God Asked You What You Wanted Most, What Would You Ask For?

Contributed by Mike Fogerson on Feb 25, 2008

God asked Solomon what he would like to have, and Solomon chose wisdom over money or power.

If God Asked You What You Wanted Most, What Would You Ask For? 1 Kings 3:1-15 Feb. 20, 2008 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor I Then Solomon formed a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her to the city of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 3:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Work Hard To Be Rich

Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Feb 3, 2015

To show that gathering riches here on earth is not our purpose but JESUS is.

I. EXORDIUM: Are you working hard to be rich? Don't do that according to this verse. II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: Believers III. OBJECTIVES: To show that gathering riches here on earth is not our purpose but JESUS is. IV. TEXT: Proverbs 23:4-5 (Amplified Bible) 23:4 Weary not yourself to be rich; ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 23:4-5

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Glorious Grace Of Having Died With Christ! PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Dec 5, 2023

Explores the paradoxical Christian truth of finding new life and deliverance through participating in Christ's death and resurrection.

Welcome, dear friends, to this beautiful sanctuary where we gather in fellowship, united by our faith and love for our Lord Jesus Christ. We are here, not by accident, but by divine appointment, called by the One who loved us before the foundation of the world. Today, we open our hearts and minds ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:10-11, Colossians 3:3, Galatians 2:20, 2 Timothy 2:11

Topics: The Real Thing, Grace

Loving God When Life Is Hard

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Aug 24, 2014

Loving God when life is easy is no challenge. Loving God when life is horrible - that's a challenge that God equips us for.

Sermon for Outdoor Service – “Loving God When Life is Hard” – August 24, 2014 No matter where we were to find ourselves at any one moment on this planet, we would discover that we have a great many things in common with every other human there. We all need to eat, sleep, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Big Things Come In Small Packages

Contributed by Craig Condon on Mar 18, 2015

God wants us to pray when we are in a difficult situation, but he also wants us to act. Pick up the phone Ask for help from a family member or friend. Learn some new skills. Don’t get discouraged. Don’t sit there passively.

There is something that is somewhat ironic in the passage about the shrewd money manager from Luke’s Gospel that we heard today. The irony is that the manager was praised for doing something that appears to be wrong, but in fact he had the foresight to plan for his future by preparing for the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-13

Denomination: Anglican

Unlikely Vessels

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Apr 25, 2017

God uses regular people to accomplish great things

UNLIKELY VESSELS Scripture: Matthew 1:1-10 Sermon: Unlikely Vessels I. An Unlikely Hero THE MARINE WHO FOUND TWO WTC SURVIVORS. Only 12 survivors were pulled from the rubble of the World Trade Center after the towers fell on Sept. 11, despite intense rescue efforts. Two of the last three to be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

O Lord It's Hard To Be Humble

Contributed by David N. Clay on Feb 21, 2012

Philippians 2:5-11 tells us how to be humble. How to have a selfless mind, a sacrificial mind, and a serving mind.

Humility Years ago there was this funny song about humility. The chorus went something like this… Oh Lord it's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me I must be a heck of a man. Oh ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

When Good Things Happen To Bad People

Contributed by Luther Sexton on Dec 6, 2021

Sometimes it seems like bad people are getting the better side of life while the good suffer.

WHEN GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO BAD PEOPLE Based on the work of Warren Wiersbe Read Psalms 73 “Almost Gone” It's important that we gird ourselves with basic truths. Life isn't free of painful experiences. Because we don't understand all things in life, we must fall back on things we ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:23, Matthew 16:26, Job 12:5

Denomination: Pentecostal

Hard Sayings: How To Accept Them

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 21, 2024

The problem with “nice” religion is that it isn’t religion at all, and today’s three Scriptural passages are proof of that reality.

Nineteenth Sunday in Course 2024 Hard Sayings There’s a very popular opinion about religion, and I think you may be already aware of it. Folks often think that religion ought to be “nice.” In other words, religion should make you feel good about yourself, first, and then, if possible, about other ...read more

Scripture: John 6:60-69, Ephesians 5:21-32, Psalm 34:2-3, Psalm 34:16-21, Joshua 24:1-2, Joshua 24:15-18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

The Blacklist - Pt. 4 - Hard Hearted Series

Contributed by Steve Ely on Apr 18, 2015

We are familiar with lists. To Do Lists, shopping lists, Santa's Naughty List. We know God has lists. The 10 Commandments, Fruit of the Spirit, Gifts of the Spirit. . . but are we familiar with God's "Blacklist"?

(SLIDE 1) The Blacklist
 Pt. 4 - Hard Hearted I. Introduction
Lists are a part of life. Lists on paper. Lists on your phone. Lists are supposed to keep us ordered. Top 10 lists. Lists you want to be on . . . Forbes List of the wealthiest people in the world and lists you don't . . . ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 6:16-19

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Glorious Grace Of Being New In Christ PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Dec 13, 2023

Explores the transformative power of the Gospel, emphasizing our new life in Christ and God's declaration of eternal love and forgiveness.

Good morning, beloved family of God. We are here once again, gathered in God's loving embrace, ready to open our hearts to His divine wisdom. Today, we are going to unwrap the profound mystery of our faith, the very essence of our spiritual existence, the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 John 5:11-12

Topics: Real Thing, Grace

Hard Work: Spiritual Growth Is Not An Accident

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Jul 8, 2009

Paul challenges Timothy to focus like a soldier, train like an athlete, and work like a farmer.

HARD WORK: Spiritual Growth is Not an Accident July 5, 2009 In a time of economic crisis, many people today would love some hard work! We also need to work hard spiritually. Ministry and spiritual discipline is often hard work. 2 Timothy 2:1-10 Our salvation is based on grace, not works, but ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-10

Denomination: Pentecostal